Love

Ivy ran as fast as she could, excitement buzzing through her. And as soon as she reached Mia’s house she barged into the front door, kicking off her shoes while she stumbled up the stairs towards her room. Flinging the door open she shouted. ”Guys! You will not believe what…”

She stopped right in her tracks when she registered what was going on. Mia, Liam and Lee sat on the floor around Fib who looked as if she had cried. The look on Ivy’s face instantly turned into worry. She closed the door and hurried over, taking Fib’s hands in hers. ”Are you okay?”

Fib smiled at her. ”Better, now that I’m here.”

”Her mother threw her out,” Lee said, putting their hand on Fib’s shoulder.

”Again?” Ivy exclaimed. Fib’s mother has always made her life more complicated. Nothing she did seemed to satisfy her and since she came out as trans it got to another level.

”Well, you can stay at my place if you want,” Ivy let her know. The others laughed slightly.

”We all told her the same,” Mia laughed.

”Of course you did,”Ivy smiled. ”I’m sorry that I wasn’t here earlier,” Ivy apologized.

Fib shook her head. ”It’s fine. I’m glad you’re all here for me.” She smiled at them lovingly. There were no people in this world she was more thankful for than these four. ”Thank you so much, guys. This really means a lot to me.” Fib’s eyes filled with tears again but this time they were happy tears.

”You did the same for us,” Liam answered. It was true. They had carried each other through hell and back. They had been there for Liam when his parents died and he had to start living at a residential group. They had been there for Fib whenever her mother made her feel like she could not be herself. They had helped Lee figure out his gender identity and had helped him to come out to his parents. They had supported Ivy against her racist teacher that had always singled her out. And they had defended Mia against the bullies when they had thought her body size was their business. And whenever they fought they always had the strength to forgive each other.

”I’m so glad to have you all.” Mia’s eyes filled with tears as well.

”Group hug!!” Lee shouted, and the five friends fell into each other’s arms, laughing as they fell onto the floor in a mass of tangled bodies.

***

This is how society should be. A place where no one is judged for who they are, who they were or who they want to be. A place where we greet each other with kindness. Where you can love who you want, just look the way you do and just be who you are, without fear.

Look around you. Nobody you there is perfect. They don’t have to be. And neither do you. Just be yourself. The right people will see how wonderful you are.